How to Draw a Shar-Pei

Step 1: The head

Near the top draw a big soft egg head, a little flat on top and fuller at the cheeks.

Tip Leave room underneath for the body and legs.

Step 2: Tiny folded ears

Over each top corner of the head draw a tiny triangle ear folded down, its point toward the eye.

Tip Rub out the head line inside each ear.

Step 3: Two big eyes

Above the middle of the head draw 2 big round eyes, a gap apart. Add black dots with shines.

Step 4: Hippo snout

Under the eyes draw a big wide oval snout, low on the face. Add a black nose with a shine.

Tip A shar-pei's snout is wide and padded, like a little hippo.

Step 5: Smile and tongue

From the nose draw a short line down to a smile. Hang a U tongue under it.

Step 6: Wrinkles

High on the forehead draw 2 short wrinkle curves. Add a curved fold down each cheek, beside the snout.

Tip A few bold wrinkles are enough: that is the shar-pei.

Step 7: Wrinkly body

From under each cheek draw a big C down for the body. Join them across. Add 2 shoulder folds.

Tip The body is a bit wider than the head.

Step 8: Collar and tag

Under the chin draw 2 sagging curves from the left side across to the right. Hang a round tag below.

Step 9: Front legs

From under the collar draw 2 long U legs down to the ground. Add 2 toe lines on each paw.

Step 10: Back paws and tail

Draw a hill paw at each bottom corner. From the right hip curl a fat tail up to a point.

Step 11: The ground

Draw the ground: a long line across under all four paws.

Step 12: Colour the fur sand

Colour the head, body, legs, paws and tail sand, around the ears, snout and collar. Keep the eyes white.

Step 13: Tan snout and ears

Colour the puffy snout and the tiny ears a deeper tan.

Step 14: Blue tongue, red collar

Colour the tongue dark blue (a shar-pei has a blue-black tongue!) and the collar red.